The Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show

TCREI #37 - 10 Years of Simple Deals w/ Adam Tafel

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #37
"10 Years of Simple Deals w/ Adam Tafel" 
Adam Tafel is a local Realtor, investor, and the co host of this show. Over the last decade, he has quietly built a real estate portfolio without chasing trends, overleveraging, or trying to scale quickly. In this episode, Adam reflects on ten years of buying solid properties in good locations using conventional financing and a common-sense approach. No big flips, no massive rehabs — just steady, well-managed rentals across long-term, mid-term, and short-term strategies.
You’ll hear what worked, what didn’t, and why simplicity, discipline, and good management can outperform the hype. Whether you’re just getting started or rethinking your next move, this episode is a grounded, real-world look at how wealth is actually built.
 

#36 - Twin Cities Housing Trends and Opportunities - Summer 2025

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #36 
"Summer 2025 Market Update"
In this episode, it’s just Adam and Tim pulling back the curtain on what’s really happening in the Twin Cities market right now. We start with a fresh local market update, comparing Minnesota’s resilience to the turmoil hitting national headlines in places like Florida, Austin, and Arizona. Then we dive into real stories from clients and friends making deals work despite today’s challenges — and share the strategies behind those successes. Finally, we unpack big changes in lending, plus the political and regulatory forces you need to watch. 
 
Adam Tafel is a Realtor out of Highland Park St Paul. You can reach Adam at 715.456.7205.
Tim Swierczek is a Mortgage Lender out of White Bear Lake MN. Email Tim at Tim@TimSwierczek.com
 
 

#35 - "Using Equity to Scale a Real Estate Portfolio w/ DIY Pro Evan Kraljic"

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #35
"Using Equity to Scale a Real Estate Portfolio w/ DIY Pro Evan Kraljic"
 
Last week’s guest was Evan Kraljic, a true DIY success story in Twin Cities real estate. Evan began his journey househacking a duplex in 2019 and continued to repeat the strategy, using the equity he built along the way to acquire additional properties. A self-taught investor who mastered everything from renovations to tenant screening, Evan even earned his contractor’s license and real estate sales license to pull his own permits and represent himself—maximizing his independence at every step.
An engineer by trade, Evan generously shares his hard-won knowledge with anyone who reaches out. He’s become an expert in leveraging HELOCs to finance both purchases and rehabs, and in this episode, he breaks down every detail of his deals with remarkable clarity. Listeners will find a treasure trove of practical, Twin Cities-specific insights on neighborhoods, tenant selection, inspections, permitting, and more. If you’re looking for a granular, no-holds-barred conversation about building wealth through strategic househacking, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
 
Adam Tafel is a Realtor and Landlord out of Highland Park, MN. You can reach Adam at 715.456.7205. 
 
Tim Swierczek is a Mortgage Lender and Investor living in White Bear Lake, MN. Email Tim at tim@timswierczek.com.
 
Check out TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com for more info! Join the facebook group and Meetup.com group of the same name to connect with other local investors. 

#34 - "22 Years, One Marriage, and a Lot of Rentals w/ Tim and Nicole Swierczek

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #34
"22 Years, One Marriage, and a Lot of Rentals" w/ Tim and Nicole Swierczek
Nicole Swierczek (Tim's Wife) joins us for a candid look back at 22 years of real estate investing alongside her husband Tim. What started with a smart home sale and a used car lot paycheck slowly turned into a true mom-and-pop rental portfolio—built one property, one repair, and one late-night tenant call at a time. Nicole, who currently manages the day to day of the portfolio, shares how they weathered the chaos of landlording, the pressure of growing a family business, and the reality that things rarely go according to plan.
This episode is about more than just real estate—it’s about partnership, persistence, and playing the long game. Nicole opens up about what kept them going, what she wishes they’d done differently, and why it still feels worth it despite all the hard years. If you’ve ever felt like you’re behind, overwhelmed, or unsure if it’s all worth it, this one’s for you.
 
Adam Tafel is a Realtor and Landlord living in Highland Park. Text or call him at 715.456.7205 for all your real estate needs. 
Tim Swierczek is a mortgage lender living in White Bear Lake. You can email Tim at tim@timswierczek.com.
Adam and Tim would love to meet with you! Schedule a one-on-one (or one-on-two, or two-on-two) at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule. 
 
 
 

#33 - From Househacking to BRRRR to Mobile Home Parks w/ Matt Bergstrom

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #33
"From Househacking to BRRRR to Mobile Home Parks w/ Matt Bergstrom"
 
Matt Bergstrom’s real estate journey began humbly—fresh out of college, he househacked a townhome with his cousin, not thinking much of it at the time. A decade passed before real estate came back into focus. Alongside his wife, Matt bought a charming early-1900s duplex in St. Paul’s Cherokee Park neighborhood, followed by a full-scale renovation of a single-family home. From there, he kept building: a non-owner-occupied duplex with Section 8 tenants, a handful of rent-to-own deals (some smooth, some rocky), and eventually a beautiful single-family home in Eagan, which he now keeps on Airbnb at a “make me move” price.
Matt was able to leave his job a few years ago and hasn’t looked back. Today, he spends his time sourcing mobile home park deals, raising his family—with twins on the way—and living a life aligned with his values. His story is one of patience, pivots, and purposeful growth. 
Adam Tafel is a Realtor and Landlord out of Highland Park. You can text him at 715.456.7205. 
Tim Swierczek is a Mortage Lender out of White Bear Lake. Email Tim at tim@timswierczek.com.
Adam and Tim would love to meet with you! Check out TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule. 
 

#32 - A Financial Advisor’s Frugal Path to Freedom w/ Scott Jensen

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #32 
"A Financial Advisor's Frugal Path to Freedom" w/ Scott Jensen
 
What does a financial advisor actually invest in? For Scott Jensen, the answer might surprise you. A lifelong DIYer and frugality-focused wealth builder, Scott has spent years advising others on how to make smart financial decisions — all while quietly building his own real estate portfolio on the side. But recently, he made a major shift: selling off his physical properties and transitioning into more passive, less hands-on investments so he can spend more time with his family. In this episode, we talk through the “why” behind that move, the tax code strategies he’s using, and how his perspective on risk and control has evolved as his priorities have shifted.
Scott’s not just numbers on a spreadsheet — he lives this stuff. From Airbnbing his house when he travels, to fixing his own toilets, to saying no to lifestyle creep, Scott brings a practical, grounded approach to wealth-building that challenges a lot of mainstream assumptions. Whether you’re deep into real estate or just trying to figure out how to build financial freedom without losing your sanity, this conversation will give you tools, perspective, and permission to do things your own way.
Adam Tafel is a Real Estate Agent and Landlord out of Highland Park, MN. Text him at 715.456.7205. 
 
Tim Swierczek is a Mortgage Lender out of White Bear Lake, MN. You can contact tim at tim@timswierczek.com. 
 
Adam and Tim would love to meet with you! Schedule a 1 on 1 (or 1 on 2) by going to TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule. 

#31 - 2025 Suburban Multifamily Data

🎙 The Twin Cities Real Estate Investing ShowEpisode #31 – “2025 Suburban Multifamily Data”
This is the third episode in our multifamily data series, where we break down market trends across the Twin Cities. In this one, Adam and Tim dig into the numbers behind suburban multifamily sales — focusing on cities within the metro but outside of Minneapolis and St. Paul proper.
We cover:
The overall lack of sales volume in many suburban municipalities
Which suburbs have relevant data and stand out for rent-to-price ratios
Why some higher-end areas still perform well — and which ones surprisingly don’t
A 10-year lookback comparing average suburban sales prices then vs. now
The best- and worst-appreciating suburban markets
How suburban multifamily compares to Minneapolis & St. Paul in sales volume and market share
Our honest take on where the suburban multifamily market stands today
🎁 Want the data from this episode?Download the exact spreadsheets we reference — free at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com
📅 Join us live to discuss the data and ask questions:June 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM – Register here
Meet Your Hosts:
Adam Tafel – Realtor & Real Estate Investor, based in Highland Park📧 Adam@UpsidePropertySales.com | 📞 715-456-7205
Tim Swierczek – Mortgage Lender & Real Estate Investor, based in White Bear Lake📧 Tim@TimSwierczek.com | 📞 651-772-9000📅 Schedule a call with Tim
👍 Enjoyed this episode?Please rate, follow, and share the show — it helps other Twin Cities investors find us!
🎧 Catch up on past episodes:The Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show

#30 - How Steve "The Uptown Guy" Taylor Made a Fortune in S Mpls

The Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #30
"How Steve "The Uptown Guy" Taylor Made a Fortune in S Mpls
Steve Taylor is a real estate broker, manager, and investor operating out of Lowry Hill Minneapolis. Steve came to the states from his home country of New Zealand back in the early 2000s, landing in Minnesota shortly after the real estate crash of 08. Steve immediately saw opportunity where others did not, buying up small multifamily properties in the Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods of South Minneapolis. Today Steve has his broker's license in multiple states, and (similar to other guests) is now focused on using his REI background to build a tech-focused business. 
We talk with Steve about his start 20 some years ago in the states, growing his portfolio in Uptown, watching multiple neighborhood cycles, local politics, and a lot more. We'd love to have him back when he can tell us more about his goals in the real estate brokering space nationwide , as we didn't have time this episode to dive into his current project. 
 
Adam Tafel is a Realtor and landlord out of Highland Park, St Paul. You can email him at Adam@UpsidePropertySales.com.
 
Tim Swierczek is a mortgage loan officer and investor living in White Bear Lake, MN. Say "hi" to Tim at tim@timswierczek.com. 
 
Check out show notes at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com. 
 
Adam and Tim would love to meet with you! Schedule a 1 on 1 at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule
 

#29 - "Achieving FIRE without the Burnout" w/ Alyssa Strom

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show # 28
"Achieving FIRE without the Burnout w/ Alyssa Strom"
Alyssa Strom is a local real estate investor from Superior, WI. Her journey into real estate investing began in 2014 after reading Rich Dad, Poor Dad, which inspired her to pursue financial and lifestyle freedom through real estate. Since then, she has been involved in property management, real estate development, and has owned multiple investment properties. Alyssa is passionate about assisting others in achieving their financial goals through real estate.
 
Alyssa is the perfect guest for this show - she's got some cool stories, lots of wisdom, and shares our mutual love for all things related Twin Cities REI. She's gone through a handful of challenges, deals which started going one direction and ended up another, and yet through it all Alyssa maintains a fantastic attitude and resilience. We are excited to have her back for a future episode highlighting her impressive networking resume - something we didn't have time to get into today.
 
Adam Tafel is a Landlord and Real Estate Agent living in Highland Park. He would love it if you emailed him at Adam @ UpsidePropertySales.com.
 
Tim Swierczek is a Mortgage Loan Officer and Real Estate Investor living in White Bear Lake. Find out more about Tim at TimSwierczek.com.
 
Adam and Tim would like to meet with you. Book a private 1on1 (or 1on2) at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule.

#28 - SF Strategy to App Development (plus St Paul Rent Control Update) w/ Oliver Lerner

Twin Cities Real Estate Investing Show #28 
"From Single Family Strategy to Software Development w/ Oliver Lerner"
Oliver Lerner is a real estate investor and tech entrepreneur living in Golden Valley, MN. He got his start shortly after college by houshacking a string of SF homes in St Louis Park. Oliver went on to buy more and more homes once he was done occupying each deal - now he self-manages 10 SF rentals, all in Saint Louis Park. Oliver is also the founder of ShukRentals - an app which aims to "rid the world of slumlords". 
 
Oliver has great energy and is a fantastic storyteller. His passion for taking care of his tenants and frustration with other landlord-facing apps lead him to develop his own, and that's where 100% of his focus is aimed these days. We talk about how he got started and scaled his portfolio, trouble with the city, landscaping woes, and so much more. We'd love if all of our listeners check out ShukRentals.com and show Oliver and his team some TCREI love! 
 
Adam Tafel is a Landlord and Realtor living in Highland Park. Email him at Adam@UpsidePropertySales.com.
 
Tim Swierczek is a mortgage lender and investor out of White Bear Lake. You can learn more about Tim by going to TimSwierczek.com.
 
Adam and Tim would love to meet with you! Schedule a one-on-one at TwinCitiesRealEstateInvesting.com/schedule.